COMMERCE CITY, Colo.—It’s only the second of 10 games in this final round of World Cup qualifying and there’s a long way to go before CONCACAF’s three automatic berths in Brazil are determined. But there’s a climactic feel about the Friday’s meeting between the United States and Costa Rica here at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

After an ugly loss in last month’s opener in Honduras, the campaign has reached an early crossroads. If the Americans hold serve at home, play well and earn three points before a supportive sold-out crowd, coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s team will be back on track. Failure to do so may have significant ramifications. With a trip to the imposing Estadio Azteca looming (the U.S. plays Mexico on Tuesday), it will find itself in a far different position, and frame of mind, without a win over over the Ticos.

A good result in Mexico City will be hard to come by, meaning Friday’s match (10 p.m. ET, ESPN) likely will determine whether the U.S. is in the thick of the race or at the back of the pack when qualifying resumes in June.

A few things to watch as the U.S. looks to maintain an unbeaten streak in home qualifiers that dates back a dozen years:

A test of depth

The names on the Klinsmann’s absentee list are distinguished. Goalkeeper Tim Howard is hurt, captain Carlos Bocanegra has been left out because of a lack of consistent playing time at his Spanish club and all-time leading scorer Landon Donovan remains on sabbatical. First-choice outside backs Steve Cherundolo and Fabian Johnson are injured, as are likely deputies Edgar Castillo and Timmy Chandler. Brek Shea (foot) and Clint Dempsey (calf) are in camp but neither is 90-minute fit.

“It’s very simple,” Klinsmann said Thursday. “We believe that the group that is here absolutely has the quality to beat Costa Rica and to get a positive result in Mexico as well. … It’s absolutely no problem. The guys that are here, they have experience and they are ready for Costa Rica and we are absolutely positive about the game tomorrow night.”

At times, it seems as though Klinsmann’s tinkering with lineups, formations and tactics (he’s used 23 different starting 11s in his 23 games) has hampered team chemistry. But it has given a host of players a taste of international soccer, which should benefit a below-strength squad on Friday.

Looking forward

Klinsmann hinted Thursday that Dempsey and Jozy Altidore will start up front, although there was no indication whether they would be paired together or play as part of a 4-3-3.

Either way, the burden will be on both to produce. With seven goals in his past 10 games, Dempsey has been the national team’s only regular scorer under Klinsmann. But he has yet to find a consistent, defined role in the attack and often has to improvise in order to make an impact.

Altidore, meanwhile, remains an enigma. He scores at will at the club level—his 25 goals for AZ Alkmaar this season are a single-season record for an American abroad. But he hasn’t found the net for the U.S. in his past eight appearances dating back to November 2011. Some may blame the 23-year-old forward, but Klinsmann may be on the hook as well for failing to unearth a midfield combination that provides reliable support and service.

Captain Clint

Bocanegra’s absence forced Klinsmann to pick a new captain, and the coach felt the decision was important enough to warrant a Wednesday press release identifying Dempsey as the choice. The praise that followed indicated that it could become a permanent appointment.

“When you look at Clint, you see a guy who isn’t afraid of anything,” midfielder Michael Bradley said. “(He) doesn’t shy away from a challenge. When you talk about wanting as many guys, as many men, on your team, as many guys with real character, I think he certainly is first on that list.”

Dempsey represents the sort of player Klinsmann is trying to forge in the U.S.—skillful, hard-working, creative and above all, determined to challenge and improve himself. This is a team in flux that needs reliable leadership, and Dempsey said he is ready to accept the responsibility.

“You have more pressure on your shoulders and you have to step up to the test,” he said. “I’ll do my best to lead by example and try to help this team get a result.”

The back line

Klinsmann has a multitude of choices in back and at this point it’s not even safe to say that Omar Gonzalez and Geoff Cameron will start in the middle. Although the pair featured in Honduras, the dearth of options on the flanks may force Klinsmann to push Cameron out wide and deploy either Clarence Goodson or Matt Besler alongside Gonzalez.

Goodson started four qualifiers last fall and Besler is the reigning MLS Defender of the Year.

The only two full-time outside backs on the roster, Tony Beltran and Justin Morrow, boast a combined two international caps. Klinsmann said he thinks they “have the quality to come to the next level” but added, “We also have other options maybe coming out of midfield.”

Versatile veteran DaMarcus Beasley could be a solution, and defensive midfielder Maurice Edu played center back when the U.S. won at Mexico last summer.

Whatever foursome Klinsmann chooses will have to find its chemistry quickly. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan will be part of the introductions as well. He’s played 29 minutes for the U.S. in the past two years.

Midfield shape

Klinsmann has a tough choice to make against Costa Rica that will have far-reaching implications.

Either he tries to protect an inexperienced back four with the same compact, three-man midfield that struggled to possess the ball in Honduras, or he open things up and looks to push forward with an established presence on the wings.

The manager has had more success when he hasn’t relied entirely on his outside backs to establish width, but he doesn’t have many options at outside midfield on Friday (especially if Shea isn’t ready). Graham Zusi and Sacha Kljestan are offensive-minded midfielders who deserve a look, but Klinsmann will have to decide whether the home-field advantage is enough to warrant the defensive risk.

Either way, expect Bradley and Jermaine Jones to start in the middle.

Costa Rica

The 0-0-1 visitors have the attacking talent to trouble the makeshift U.S. defense, and much of it is familiar to U.S. fans. Real Salt Lake star Alvaro Saborio suffered a bruised knee in practice but said Thursday he is ready to go. He has three goals in three MLS games this season and tallied 17 last year. Captain Bryan Ruiz, Dempsey’s former teammate at Fulham, is skillful and experienced. Columbus Crew forward Jairo Arrieta is a relative newcomer on the international scene but has impressed with 10 goals in 21 MLS games over the past two seasons.

The U.S. hasn’t beaten Costa Rica in five straight games (0-3-2) dating to 2005. Beasley said Thursday that the key to ending that streak will be to play like the home team. That means putting the Ticos under pressure and avoiding a defensive struggle where one slip-up might give a player like Saborio the chance to steal the game.

“We feel very comfortable at home,” Beasley said. “I don’t want to jinx it but we haven’t lost yet and definitely don’t want to happen (Friday). We want to come out and act like the home team. … It’s about an approach. It’s about going out there and making sure they know we’re at home. We’re not going to go down easy and we’re going to push for that first goal.”